Capsule filling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A capsule filling machine includes a rotating drum having circumferentially spaced single or longitudinal rows of first capsule openings and capsule opening arms having corresponding rows of second larger diameter capsule openings and pivoted to an end of the drum and having followers which cooperate with a cam to retract successive arms after a capsule feed station and advance the arms through a filling station and then to a closed position with first and second openings in adjacent alignment. Before the retraction of the arms closed capsules are fed to the second openings and suction is applied to the drum underface to separate and draw the capsule lower halves into the first openings. The arms are retracted to separate the capsules, the drum-carried capsules filled, the arms closed, the capsules closed by a pusher member entering the first opening while the second opening is blocked and ejector fingers then discharge the closed filled capsules from the drum and arms.

United States Patent Austin 51 July 11, 1972 s41 CAPSULE FILLING APPARATUS 3,264,802 8/1966 Kath ..s3/2s2 x [72] Inventor: Leonard ll. Austin, Lynbrook, N.Y. mmary Emmin" mmn E. Condo" [731 Assignee: Amaks Industries, Inc, Lynbrook, N.Y. Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver [22] Filed: y 3, 1970 Attorney-William R. bberman [21] Appl. No.: 59,951 [57] ABSTRACT A capsule filling machine includes a rotating drum having cir- [52] US. Cl.. .....53/282, 53/201, 53/276 cumferentially spaced single or longitudinal rows of first cap- [51] Int. Cl. 1/06, B651: 1/ 12 sule o enings and capsule opening arms having corresponding [58] Field of Search ..$3/282, 272, 276, 278, 279, rows of second larger diameter capsule openings and pivoted 201 to an end of the drum and having followers which cooperate with a cam to retract succesive arms afler a capsule feed sta- [56] Rama CM tion and advance the arms through a filling station and then to a closed position with first and second openings in adjacent UNITED STATES PATENTS alignment. Before the retraction of the arms closed capsules 2,764,863 10/1956 Kath ..53/282 are fed to the second openings and suction is applied to the 3,479,793 1 1/1969 Evers ...53/282 X drum underface to separate and draw the capsule lower halves l,232,1 12 7/1917 Smith & Cable ..$3/282 into the first openings. The arms are retracted to separate the 2, |08,906 2/1933 Speckhart et a1. ..53/282 eapsules, the drum-carried capsules filled, the arms closed, the 3.533.677 1 H1970 Am l' l "5 X capsules closed by a pusher member entering the first opening 3,078,629 2/1963 Beserner et a1 ...$3/282 X whilg h nd o ening is blocked and ejector fingers then 5 1 9/1970 Ammo" at 3/282 X discharge the closed filled capsules from the drum and arms, 3,534,526 10/1970 Hostetler et al. ..$3/282 3,070,932 1/1963 0. Hfifiiger ..$3/276 X 20 Claim, 13 Drawing Figures FA'TE'N'TEDJUL 11 m2 3.675.390

SHEET 10F 5 Frqimam QM.

ATTORNEY P'A'TENTEBJUL 11 m2 3.675 .390

INVENTOR lzomea/iAz/sm/ filial? w.

ATTORNEY CAPSULE FILLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present apparatus relates generally to improvements in filling apparatus and it relates particularly to an improved automatic capsule filling machine.

A common versatile and highly convenient method of orally administering a solid pharmaceutical or medicinal product in unit dosage form is by means of capsules which are generally formed of gelatin and include a base section and a cap section. The capsules are filled with the pharmaceutical composition containing the desired concentration of active ingredients so that the closed, filed capsule provides a predetermined dosage. The conventional methods and procedures for filling capsules are highly labor and time consuming and frequently unreliable and of little accuracy. While machines have been proposed for the automatic filling of capsules, such machines possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages and thus have met with little success.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved container filling machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved capsule filling machine.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for automatically opening, filling and closing capsules.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a capsule filling machine of the above nature characterized by its reliability, ruggedness, simplicity, versatility and adaptability.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of a capsule filling machine comprising a rotatable turret having capsule engaging first openings movable with the rotation of said turret successively through a capsule feed station, a capsule opening station, a capsule filling station, a capsule closing station and a capsule discharge station, capsule opening members having capsule engaging second openings and movable with said turret and movable relative to said turret between closed advanced positions proximate said turret with respective first and second capsule engaging openings in axial alignment and open retracted positions remote from said turret, actuating means urging said capsule opening members to their closed positions at said capsule feed and closing stations and to their open positions at said capsule feeding stations, means for feeding individual closed capsules at said feed station with the lower and upper sections thereof separating into respective engagement with said first and second capsule engaging openings whereby the retraction of said capsule opening member opens said capsule lower sections. filling means for feeding a filler into said capsule lower sections at said filling station, means for closing said capsules at said capsule closing station, and means for discharging the closed filled capsules at said discharge station.

In its preferred form the turret comprises a rotatable drum which is supported at its rear end and is provided with circumferentially spaced radial first bores, preferably longitudinal rows thereof, and the capsule opening members comprise longitudinal arms pivoted to the rear of the drum and swingable between advanced positions superimposed on the drum face and retracted outwardly directed positions, the arms having second bores in axial alignment with the first bores when the arms are in advanced position. A cam is located rearwardly of the drum and is engaged by cam followers mounted on the arms to retract the arms between the capsule opening and closing stations. A capsule feed pipe has a discharge opening registering with each second bore at the capsule feed station and suction means communicate through the drum underface with the first bores at the capsule feed station. A filler feed tube engages the drum outer face and communicates with each first bore at the filler station and an outwardly springurged pusher member inside the drum at the capsule closing station bears on the inner end of a capsule to effect the closing thereof by the capsule cap which is prevented from moving outwardly by a shoe slideably engaging the arm outer faces bordering the second bores opposite the pusher member. A spring loaded ejector finger moves in and out of the discharge station with the drum rotation.

In an alternative construction, the swing arm control cam is replaced by a suitably shaped track engaged by followers carried by the swing arm free ends between the capsule opening and closing stations. In order to pennit the adjustment of the machine to different size capsules, the drum is provided with longitudinal slots which replaceably retain longitudinal bars having the first bores formed therein and the swing arms are likewise replaceable.

The improved capsule filling machine accurately automatically feeds, opens, fills, closes and discharges two piece capsules and is of rugged and simple construction and of highly reliable operation and requires a minimum of attendance, servicing and maintenance and is of great versatility and adaptability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a capsule filling machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 2 showing a section of the capsule closing station with the drum advanced from the position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 2 showing the capsule discharge station with the drum advanced from the position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is asectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is asectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the capsule feed section of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. II is a fragmentary front elevational view of a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view thereof; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the drum and swing arm assembly of still another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIGS. I to 9 thereof which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved capsule filling machine employed in the filling of capsules K, of conventional construction including a lower or base section K1 and an upper or cap section K2. Machine 10 comprises a base plate ll upon the rear of which is located a box frame having a front wall 12 supporting a vertical mounting plate 13.

Upper and lower vertically spaced cam-defining blocks 14 and 16 respectively are suitably secured to the front face of plate 13 and have parallel confronting faces which delineate a cam track T which includes an intermediate depressed dwell portion Tl, leading and trailing raised dwell portions T2 and T3 respectively, and inclined transition portions T4 and T5 connecting the leading and trailing cam portions respectively with the intermediate portion. The outer edge T6 of lower cam member "5 defines a raised cam dwell portion corresponding to the level of cam sections T2 and T3 and extending between the latter.

Longitudinally aligned circular openings are formed in plate 13 and cam block 16 and an axial sleeve bearing 17 engages these openings. A bearing block 18 is mounted atop box frame 11 proximate its rear edge and in axial alignment with sleeve bearing 17 and a shah 19 is journalled in bearings 17 and 18 and projects rearwardly and forwardly thereof. A pulley 20a secured to the rear end of shaft 19 is connected by a belt 21a to a suitable electric drive motor.

Coaxially mounted on the front part of shafi 19 and rotata ble therewith is a turret defining, cylindrical, open front drum 20 including a peripheral wall 21 and a rear end wall 22 secured to shaft 19 rearwardly offront end shaft 19, such as by welding. A vertical post 23 is medially mounted atop the front part of base plate 11 and supports a U-clamp 24 whose opposite threaded legs pass through openings in post 23 and are engaged and tightened by nuts. Clamp 24 releasably engages and supports the front end of a tubular member 26 coaxial with drum 20. A sleeve bearing 27 nests in the rear part of tu' bular member 26 and the front end of shaft 19 telescopes and is journalled in bearing 27. A pair of longitudinally spaced coaxial annular front and rear plates 28 and 29 of lesser diameter than the inside diameter of drum wall 21 are affixed to tubular member 26 within drum 20 and spaced from the ends of the drum.

A plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced, radial capsule engaging first bores 30 are formed in the outer face of drum wall 21 between the ends thereof, and a well or groove 32 is formed in the inside face of drum wall 21 in axial registry and communication with each bore 30. Base 33 of each groove or well 32 is arcuate and defines a cam surface and in tersects a corresponding bore 30 and joins the inside face of drum wall 21 at points circumferentially spaced on opposite sides of bore 30. Grooves 32 are narrower than bores 30, as seen in FIG. 7, and are symmetrical relative thereto. It should be noted that the thickness of drum wall 21 is greater than the height of the base K1 of the capsule whose diameter is about equal to that of bore 30.

Mounted on the outside border of the drums rear wall 22 by means of screws 34 are circumferentially spaced hinge brackets 36 which are in longitudinal alignment with corresponding bores 30. Each bracket 36 includes a pair of laterally spaced parallel ears 37 projecting radially outwardly beyond the outer face of drum wall 21 and having laterally aligned openings located rearwardly and shortly outwardly of the outer face of drum wall 21 and engaging the opposite ends of a corresponding pivot pin 38.

Each bracket 36 supports a capsule-opening arm 39 for swinging about the rear end of the arm 39 between a closed advanced position extending along and engaging the outside face of drum wall 21 and a retracted open position projecting radially outwarcliy from bracket 36. Each arm 39 is of length somewhat less than that of drum 20 and includes a rearwardly directed medial leg 40 sandwiched between bracket ears 37 and having a transverse bore engaged by pivot pin 38 to permit the swinging of arm 39. The underfaces 41 of arms 39 are cylindrically concave and mate and engage the outside face of drum wall 21 when the arms 39 are in closed position. The outside faces 42 of arms 39 are cylindrically convex and coaxial with the underfaces thereof and the opposite side faces 43 of arms 39, when closed, are substantially radial and closely spaced to the confronting side faces 43 of adjacent closed arms 39. A capsule engaging second bore 44 is formed in each capsule-opening arm 39 and is in coaxial end to end alignment with a corresponding bore 30 when the respective arm 39 is in closed position. Bores 44 are of height greater than that of capsule cap K2 and of diameters greater than that of bore 30 and approximately equal to but no greater than the diameter of capsule cap K2 so that a capsule cap K2 may be axially inserted in a bore 44 and frictionally retained therein.

A rod 46 is affixed to the rear outer corner of each arm leg 40 and projects rearwardly therefrom at an obtuse angle with the corresponding arm 39, for example one of about l 35, and terminates in a cam follower-defining ball 47. Cam track T and cam 16 are so shaped and related to cam follower balls 47 and amp 39 that, as a follower ball 47 traverses cam track T and the peripheral face and forward edge of cam 16 not borden'ng track T, it first registers with track section T2 when the respective arm 39 is in capsule feed station A; when the trailing side edge of arm 39 leaves capsule feed station A and arm 39 traverses capsule opening station B the respective follower ball 47 engages and traverses cam section T4 to urge follower ball 47 radially inwardly and to swing arm 39 to its fully open position; an arm 39 traverses filler station C follower ball 47 engages cam dwell section T1 to maintain arm 39 in fully open position out of radial registry with filler station C; when the trailing side edge of arm 39 passes filler station C follower ball 47 engages cam section T5 which urges follower ball 47 radially outwardly and closes arm 39 before capsule closing station D is reached at which station arm 39 is maintained closed by follower ball 47 engaging cam dwell section T3. Arm 39 is maintained closed during its travel through capsule discharge section E and back to capsule feed station A by follower ball 47 engaging cam section T6 of cam 16 which maintains ball 47 in its outermost position.

A post 48 on base plate 11 supports at station A, which is in the upper left quadrant as viewed in FIG. 2. an inclined tubular feed pipe 50 by means of a tubular bracket 49. Feed pipe 50 is aligned with a diameter of drum 20 intersecting the path of the centers of bores 30 and has a bottom discharge opening which closely registers and is coaxial with the bore 44 of a closed arm 39 in station A. Pipe 50 communicates at its outer end with a source of oriented capsules K which may include a capsule hopper and a capsule orienting mechanism of known construction so that closed capsules K are fed end to end through pipe 50 with capsule bases K1 leading or foremost and capsule caps K2 trailing.

An arcuate shoe 51 is located in drum 20 and is formed of a low friction material, such as nylon, Teflon or the like, and has a cylindrical outer face mating and slideably, hermetically engaging the inside face of drum 20 at station A along the path of slots 32. Shoe 51 is symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis of feed pipe 50, and is of a length approximately equal to twice the distance between successive bores 30 and of width greater than that of a slot 32 so as to close the opening in a registering slot 32. A central port 52 is formed in shoe 51 coaxial with feed pipe 50, and a centrally apertured curved backing plate 55 extends along the rear face of shoe 51 and is mounted on the end of a radial pipe 53 which registers with the opening in backing plate 55 and communicates with port 52. Pipe 53 is connected to the inner end of a longitudinally extending pipe 54 which in turn is connected to a vacuum pump, pipe 54 projecting through and being suitably supported by plate 28.

A vertical tubular filler feed head 56 is located in filling station C and projects upwardly from the top face of drum wall 21 and is in coaxial alignment with successive bores 30. Feed head 56 has an axial vertical bore of a larger diameter than bores 30 and includes an upper body member 57 and an annular bearing and sealing member 58 fitting and suitably secured to the underface of body member 57 and slideably engaging the face of drum wall 21, the annular member 58 being formed of any suitable low friction, abrasion resistant material. A feed pipe 59 extends from and communicates with head 50 and is connected to a suitable source of a particulate filler material which is advanced downwardly through pipe 59 and head 56 at the desired density and pressure by any suitable feed means, for example a suitably mounted motor driven auger or feed mechanism 45, or the like.

A resilient, back stop defining arm or shoe 60 is mounted on and projects vertically upwardly from base plate 11 and bears on the outer faces of successive arms 39 along the path of bores 44 at the right side of such path as viewed in FIG. 2. Arm 60 terminates in an outwardly curved section 61.

Positioned within drum 20 and extending between and supported by plates 28 and 29 is an axle 63 shortly spaced from the inside face of drum wall 21 opposite finger 61. A bifurcated lever 64 is swingably mounted between its ends in axle 63 in the plane of grooves 32 and is restricted against axial movement on axle 63 by a pair of collars 65 fixed on axle 63 and engaging opposite sides of lever 64. A freely rotatable wheel 66 of a width less than the diameter of bore 30 and a radius of curvature equal to that of groove 32 is supported by an axle pin 67 between the free ends of the depending arms 68 of lever 64 and is spaced therefrom by opposite spacer rings 69 on pin 67 between wheel 66 and arms 68. A helical tension spring 70 extends between the upper end of lever 64 and tubular member 26 to urge lever 64 counterclockwise and wheel 66 toward the inside face of drum wall 2l. Thus, with the rotation of drum 20, wheel 66 is urged into engagement with successive grooves 32 and bores 30 by spring 70 and is retracted between successive grooves 32 by the camming action of the groove curved surface 33 on the wheel periphery with the rotation of the drum.

A capsule ejecting mechanism, actuated by the rotating drum 20, is located in the lower part of drum and includes an axle 7l supported by and between the lower right quadrants of plates 28 and 29. A lever 72 inclined downwardly to the left as viewed in FIG. 2 is swingably mounted on axle 71 in the plane of bores 30 and is resiliently urged counter clockwise by a tension spring 73 extending between the upper end of lever 72 and tubular member 26. Lever 72 terminates at its free end in a depending finger 74 forming an obtuse angle therewith and the bottom edge of lever 72 is convexly curved extending inwardly from finger 74 to define a cam 76. Lever 72, finger 74 and cam 76 are so shaped and related that, with the rotation of drum 20, as a bore 30 moves into registry with finger 74, finger 74 is spring urged into said bore 30 and with further rotation of drum 20 the trailing edge of groove 32 engages cam 76 to retract finger 74 from bore 30 and the movin g bore base 33 then engages the end of finger 74 and raises it out of groove 32 against the influence of spring 73. A discharge tray or receiver 74 or chute opening is positioned below drum 20 at discharge station E.

Considering now the operation of the improved capsule filling machine described above, in feed station A, arm 39 located therein is in closed condition with bores 30 and 44 in axial alignment with feed pipe 50, and bores 30 and 44 and groove 32 are evacuated by communication through port 52 with the vacuum pump. A capsule K at the discharge opening of i e 50 which has been riding along the outerface of arm 39 is then rapidly and sharply sucked into aligned bores 30 and 44, the lower edge of capsule cap K2 being engaged by the shoulder at the bottom of bore 44 above bore 30, as at FIG. 6, thereby to retain capsule cap K2 completely within bore 44 and the capsule base K1 is separated from capsule cap K2 by the suction and drawn completely within bore 30, further inward radial movement being prevented by the spherical bottom of bore 30, FIG. 4.

With the advance of drum 20 and the capsule engaging arm 39 past station A through station B arm 39 carrying capsule cap K2 is swung to its fully retracted position by the cam and follower to expose the top face of drum 20, open capsule K, and provide free access to the open topped capsule base Kl. As the open capsule base Kl traverses station C it is brought into communication with filler head 57, the capsule base Kl there being filled from head 57. it should be noted that the amount of filler material delivered to the capsule depends on the size of the capsule base Kl, its position below the outer edge of bore 30, the density of the filler material and other parameters. The filled capsule base Kl is then carried past station C and the arm 39 swung to its closed position bringing capsule cap K2 into alignment with the filled capsule base Kl and in this condition it advances to station D.

At station D the outer end of bore 44 is blocked or closed by shoe 60 and lever mounted wheel 66 is spring urged into engagement with groove 32 and bore 30 bearing on the inner end of capsule base K1 to urge it outwardly into telescoping engagement with capsule cap K2 thereby to close the filled capsule K. Upon being advanced to station E the filled capsule K is discharged from bores 30 and 44 into underlying receiver 75 by the outer finger 74 which registers with bores 30 and 44 at station E and is spring urged therein. The above sequence is successively repeated with each pair of bores 30 and 44 for each revolution of drum 20.

In the apparatus described above only one set of bores 30 and 44 is provided at each angular position of the drum but it should be noted that the capacity of the apparatus is greatly increased by providing a longitudinal row of bores 30 and 44 in each angular position of drum 20 and in each arm 39 respectively. Thus, in the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in H6. 10, drum l20, corresponding to drum 20. has a peripheral wall 121 in which are formed a plurality of circumferentially spaced similar rows of longitudinally spaced capsule engaging bores 130. Mounted on the trailing wall of drum are capsule opening arms corresponding to arms 39, each having a row of capsule engaging second bores which register with bores when the arms are in closed position.

Within drum I20 at the capsule feed station there is positioned an intake manifold [01 connected to a vacuum pump and provided with a plurality of backed arcuate shoes I57 slideably hermetically engaging the inside face of drum wall 121 at the capsule feed station, each shoe having a medial port communicating with manifold 10, and aligned with the capsule feed pipes corresponding to feed pipes 50 which are provided for each bore 130 in the row thereof. In all other respects the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is similar to that first described with the further exceptions that a row of filler heads l56, and a plurality of longitudinally aligned backing shoes, closure wheels adapted to engage corresponding arcuate grooves registering with each bore 130 and a plurality of spring advanced lever mounted ejector fingers are provided which correspond to the individual elements of the first embodiment. The operation of the apparatus is similar to that first described except that a plurality of capsules are handled at each station.

in F168. ll and 12 there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention which differs from that first described only in the mechanism employed for retracting and maintaining the opening arms in a retracted position following the capsule feed station and through the capsule filling station in place of the cam and the following structure. previously described. Specifically. a rotatable drum 220 of the same construction and supported and rotated as drum 20 in the first embodiment has mounted on its rear wall a plurality of the circumferentially spaced hinge brackets 236 each of which includes a pair of outwardly directed transversely spaced ears 237.

A capsule cap engaging bore containing arm 239 corresponding in structure to arms 39, has a rearwardly directed leg 240 sandwiched between ears 237 by a pivot pin 238 so that arrm 239 are swingable between horizontal closed or advanced positions and vertical open or retracted positions. Each arm 239 is normally urged to its closed position by a hairpin spring 20l including a U-shapcd crosspiece 202 engaging the outer surface of leg 240 at a point remote from pivot 238, legs 203 extending from the ends of crosspiece 202 and terminating in coil springs 204 engaging the outer ends of pivot 238 and terminating in ends secured to bracket ears 237 whereby springs 201 resiliently urge arms 239 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 12.

A stationary circular front end plate 228, corresponding to end plate 28, is supported by tubular member 226 in registry with the open front end of drum 220 and supports a cam defining track member 206 which is suitably mounted on the upper front face of end plate 228. Track member 206 includes a forwardly slightly upwardly inclined short leg 207 projecting forwardly from plate 228 and joining the lower end of a first track section 208 which is rearwardly upwardly circularly curved and is also inclined upwardly and to the right as viewed in FIG. ll from the front end of leg 207 to a curved crosspiece or apex 209 in vertical medial alignment with pivot pin 238 which is in its topmost path of travel with drum 220. A second main track section 2l0joins, at its upper end, apex crospiece 209 and extends along an arcuate forwardly downward path lying in a plane inclined downwardly and to the right, as viewed in FIG. ll, at an angle slightly less to the vertical than the plane of track section 208 and terminates in a rearwardly directed leg 211 secured to plate 228. Cam or track follower defining rods 212 project forwardly from arms 239 to points beyond track member 206.

As drum 228 rotates, clockwise as viewed in FIG. ll, arms 239 are maintained in their closed positions by springs 201 as they traverse the capsule feeding station in which capsule feed tube 250 is positioned. Upon leaving the capsule feed station followers 212 engage the outside face of track 209 and as they traverse track section 208 they are raised to open arms 239 before they reach the capsule filling station in which filler feed tube 259 is located, arms 239 being transported by drum 220 through the filling station behind filler tube 259 and exposing the upper face of drum 220. Arms 239 are maintained in their raised position as the respective followers 212 traverse crosspiece 209. As followers 212 traverse track section 210 they are permitted to move downwardly and release arms 239 to be swung by springs to their closed position before they reach the capsule closing station in which stop shoe 260 is located. Except for the capsule arms raising and lowering mechanism and its operation the embodiment last described is similar in structure and operation to that first described.

A drum and capsule opening arm assembly which permits the adaptation of the capsule filling machines described above to capsules f different sizes is shown in FIG. 13 of the drawing. The assembly comprises a drum 320 open at its front end and including a peripheral wall 32l and a rear end wall 322. A plurality of regularly peripherally spaced similar longitudinal slots 323 are formed in drum wall 321 and extend from points short of the front end of drum wall 321 to the rear of drum 320. The front ends of slots 323 are curved and the rear ends thereof are open and the opposing side faces 324 of each slot 323 are parallel. Formed in slot side faces 324 are confronting longitudinal grooves 325 which extend from proximate the forward ends of faces 324 to the rear ends thereof.

Separably registering with each slot 323 and releasably locked therein by any suitable means, such as a lock screw, is a replaceable capsule bore bar 326 which is in mating engagement with a slot 323. Each bar 326 includes side faces 337 which engage slot faces 324, parallel opposite ribs 327 on faces 337 which matingly slideably engage groovs 325, a curved front face 328 engaging the front face of slot 323 and a rear face coplanar with the rear face of drum 320. A medially disposed row of longitudinally spaced vertical bores 330 are formed in the top face of bar 326 and communicate with arcuate grooves 332 corresponding to bores 330 and grooves 32 of the first described embodiment. Longitudinal extensions of grooves 332 are formed in the inside face of drum wall 321. A medially located post 338 is integrally formed and directed upwardly from the rear of each bar 326 and has a transverse bore formed therein.

A swing arm 339 having a cylindrical outer face and an inner face complementing the outer face of drum wall 32] carrying bars 326 is provided with a pair of transversely spaced rearwardly directed knuckles 340 which embrace a corresponding post 338 and are joined thereto by a hinge pin permitting the swinging of arm 339 between a vertical retracted position and an advanced horizontal closed position. A row of longitudinally spaced bores 344 of greater diameter than bores 330 is formed in arm 339 and are in coaxial registry with boxes 330 when arm 339 is in a closed position. Projecting forwardly from each arm 339 is a follower rod as 212 which functions as does the same-numbered rod in the modification of FIGS. ll and 12 as earlier set forth. In other respects the apparatus employing the drum and arm assembly is similar to those earlier described as is its operation. However, the apparatus may be adjusted to accommodate different size capsules by replacing the hinged units including bars 326 and arms 339 on drum 320 so that the respective bores 330 and 344 match the capsule bases and caps.

While there have been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the arms 339 may be directly hinged to drum 320 and have slots therein for replaceably retaining bars having capsule engaging bores therein.

1 claim:

1. A capsule filling machine comprising a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface and having capsule engaging first openings comprising radially spaced bores in said surface and movable with the rotation of said drum successively through a capsule feed station, a capsule opening station, a capsule filling station, a capsule closing station and a capsule discharge station, capsule opening members having capsule engaging second openings and swingably mounted on said drum between closed advanced positions proximate said drum with respective first and second capsule engaging openings in axial alignment and open retracted positions remote from said drum, actuating means urging said capsule opening members to their closed positions at said capsule feed and closing stations and to their open positions at said capsule filling station, means for feeding individual closed capsules at said feed station with the lower and upper sections thereof separating into respective engagement with said first and second capsule engaging openings whereby the retraction of said capsule opening member opens said capsule lower sections, filling means for feeding a filler into said capsule lower sections at said filling station, means for closing said capsules at said capsule closing station, and means for discharging the closed filled capsules at said discharge station.

2. The capsule filling machine of claim I, wherein said capsule feeding means includes a feed tube having a bottom outlet proximate and in axial alignment with a second capsule engaging opening at said capsule feed station.

3. The capsule filling machine of claim 2, wherein said capsule engaging first openings have first ports communicating with the underface of said drum, and said capsule feed means includes a low pressure conduit having a second stationary port slideably engaging the underface of said drum and registering with a first port in said capsule feed station.

4. The capsule filling machine of claim l, wherein said capsule opening members comprises arms pivotally mounted on said drum for swinging between advanced and retracted positions, and said second openings are defined by bores located in said arms.

5. The capsule filling machine of claim l, wherein said capsule feed means positions said capsules in said capsule engaging opening with the upper edge of the bottom capsule section located below the upper level of said first capsule engaging opening.

6. The capsule filling machine ofclaim 1, wherein said drum is rotatable about a horizontally extending axis and said capsule engaging first openings extend radially relative to said drum and are peripherally spaced therein.

7. The capsule filling machine of claim 6, wherein said capsule opening members comprise longitudinally extending arms pivotally mounted on said drum for swinging between advanced and retracted positions about transverse axes longitudinally spaced from said first capsule engaging openings, said second capsule engaging openings being defined by bores located in said arms.

8. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said actuating means comprises a stationary cam and followers mounted on said capsule opening arms and offset from the pi vota] axes thereof and engaging said cam.

9. The capsule filling machine of claim 8, wherein said cap sule closing arms are spring urged toward their closed positrons.

10. The capsule filling machine of claim 8, wherein said cam comprises a track element extending longitudinally, radially and circumferentially relative to said drum and is longitudinally inclined, said cam followers projecting from the free ends of said capsule opening arms and engaging said track member when respective arms are between the capsule feed and discharge stations.

H. The capsule filling machine of claim 8, wherein said cam is positioned proximate an end of said drum and said cam followers project from the pivoted ends of said capsule closing arms.

12. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said capsule closing means comprises means at said capsule closing station for blocking the outer ends of said second capsule engaging openings following the closing of respective capsule opening arms,and pusher means for urging the capsule sec tions in said first capsule engaging openings at said capsule closing station in an outward capsule closing direction.

13. The capsule filling machine of claim l2, wherein said drum has circumferentially extending cam defining grooves formed in its inner face and intersecting said first capsule engaging openings and said pusher means comprises a wheel supported within said drum opposite said blocking means and in the path of said cam defining grooves and being resiliently outwardly urged.

14. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said discharge means comprises an ejector finger supported within said drum and movable between an advanced position projecting through a registering first capsule engaging opening and a retracted position inside said drum, and cam means responsive to the rotation of said drum for advancing and retracting said ejector finger.

IS. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said capsule feed means comprises a capsule feed chute having a discharge opening registering with successive second capsule engaging bores in said advanced capsule opening arms at said capsule feed station, a stationary port member slideably engaging the inside face of said drum and having an opening in radial alignment with said feed tube discharge opening and means for connecting said port member to a suction source.

16. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said filling means comprises a filler feed conduit having a discharge opening engaging the upper face of said drum along the path of said first capsule engaging openings at said filler station and means for urging filler material in said conduit through said discharge opening.

17. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal rows of longitudinally spaced first capsule engaging openings are formed in said drum, and each of said capsule opening arms has a corresponding row of longitudinally spaced capsule engaging openings formed therein.

18. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said drum has recesses formed in the outer face thereof and includes replaceable members engaging said recesses and having said first capsule engaging openings formed therein.

19. The capsule filling machine of claim 18, wherein said capsule opening arms are replaceable.

20. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said drum has circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots formed therein and includes a plurality of bars separably engaging said slots and each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced first capsule engaging openings formed therein, said capsule opening bars being replaceable and having longitudinally spaced second capsule engaging openings formed therein. 

1. A capsule filling machine comprising a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface and having capsule engaging first openings comprising radially spaced bores in said surface and movable with the rotation of said drum successively through a capsule feed station, a capsule opening station, a capsule filling station, a capsule closing station and a capsule discharge station, capsule oPening members having capsule engaging second openings and swingably mounted on said drum between closed advanced positions proximate said drum with respective first and second capsule engaging openings in axial alignment and open retracted positions remote from said drum, actuating means urging said capsule opening members to their closed positions at said capsule feed and closing stations and to their open positions at said capsule filling station, means for feeding individual closed capsules at said feed station with the lower and upper sections thereof separating into respective engagement with said first and second capsule engaging openings whereby the retraction of said capsule opening member opens said capsule lower sections, filling means for feeding a filler into said capsule lower sections at said filling station, means for closing said capsules at said capsule closing station, and means for discharging the closed filled capsules at said discharge station.
 2. The capsule filling machine of claim 1, wherein said capsule feeding means includes a feed tube having a bottom outlet proximate and in axial alignment with a second capsule engaging opening at said capsule feed station.
 3. The capsule filling machine of claim 2, wherein said capsule engaging first openings have first ports communicating with the underface of said drum, and said capsule feed means includes a low pressure conduit having a second stationary port slideably engaging the underface of said drum and registering with a first port in said capsule feed station.
 4. The capsule filling machine of claim 1, wherein said capsule opening members comprises arms pivotally mounted on said drum for swinging between advanced and retracted positions, and said second openings are defined by bores located in said arms.
 5. The capsule filling machine of claim 1, wherein said capsule feed means positions said capsules in said capsule engaging opening with the upper edge of the bottom capsule section located below the upper level of said first capsule engaging opening.
 6. The capsule filling machine of claim 1, wherein said drum is rotatable about a horizontally extending axis and said capsule engaging first openings extend radially relative to said drum and are peripherally spaced therein.
 7. The capsule filling machine of claim 6, wherein said capsule opening members comprise longitudinally extending arms pivotally mounted on said drum for swinging between advanced and retracted positions about transverse axes longitudinally spaced from said first capsule engaging openings, said second capsule engaging openings being defined by bores located in said arms.
 8. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said actuating means comprises a stationary cam and followers mounted on said capsule opening arms and offset from the pivotal axes thereof and engaging said cam.
 9. The capsule filling machine of claim 8, wherein said capsule closing arms are spring urged toward their closed positions.
 10. The capsule filling machine of claim 8, wherein said cam comprises a track element extending longitudinally, radially and circumferentially relative to said drum and is longitudinally inclined, said cam followers projecting from the free ends of said capsule opening arms and engaging said track member when respective arms are between the capsule feed and discharge stations.
 11. The capsule filling machine of claim 8, wherein said cam is positioned proximate an end of said drum and said cam followers project from the pivoted ends of said capsule closing arms.
 12. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said capsule closing means comprises means at said capsule closing station for blocking the outer ends of said second capsule engaging openings following the closing of respective capsule opening arms,and pusher means for urging the capsule sections in said first capsule engaging openings at said capsule closing station in an outward capsule closing direction.
 13. The capsule filling machine of cLaim 12, wherein said drum has circumferentially extending cam defining grooves formed in its inner face and intersecting said first capsule engaging openings and said pusher means comprises a wheel supported within said drum opposite said blocking means and in the path of said cam defining grooves and being resiliently outwardly urged.
 14. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said discharge means comprises an ejector finger supported within said drum and movable between an advanced position projecting through a registering first capsule engaging opening and a retracted position inside said drum, and cam means responsive to the rotation of said drum for advancing and retracting said ejector finger.
 15. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said capsule feed means comprises a capsule feed chute having a discharge opening registering with successive second capsule engaging bores in said advanced capsule opening arms at said capsule feed station, a stationary port member slideably engaging the inside face of said drum and having an opening in radial alignment with said feed tube discharge opening and means for connecting said port member to a suction source.
 16. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said filling means comprises a filler feed conduit having a discharge opening engaging the upper face of said drum along the path of said first capsule engaging openings at said filler station and means for urging filler material in said conduit through said discharge opening.
 17. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal rows of longitudinally spaced first capsule engaging openings are formed in said drum, and each of said capsule opening arms has a corresponding row of longitudinally spaced capsule engaging openings formed therein.
 18. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said drum has recesses formed in the outer face thereof and includes replaceable members engaging said recesses and having said first capsule engaging openings formed therein.
 19. The capsule filling machine of claim 18, wherein said capsule opening arms are replaceable.
 20. The capsule filling machine of claim 7, wherein said drum has circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots formed therein and includes a plurality of bars separably engaging said slots and each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced first capsule engaging openings formed therein, said capsule opening bars being replaceable and having longitudinally spaced second capsule engaging openings formed therein. 